"Knock Knock."
"Who is it?"
"It's Chunhua my lady."
"Come in."
Quickly sitting up with her hair in a mess. Ying Yue yawns and glances at Chunhua as she walks in. Ying Yue had spent the past three nights trying to come up with a plan on how to make the prince favor Jia Li again. With every plan she came up with, the cons were always outweighing the pros. Jia Li wasn't the most dependable person either, making it only harder on Ying Yue. Ying Yue removes her blanket off her and walks to her small table as Chunhua prepares a wet washcloth for her.
"Chunhua, why are you here so early?"
"My lady, we just received word that the crown prince is going to be visiting today. We must get you ready before he comes."
"He's coming today? Ugh...our weddings tomorrow already and he's still coming to visit me."
An Idea clicks inside Ying Yue's head. Today was her chance to make the crown prince see how great Jia Li really was. Filled with excitement, Ying Yue convinces Chunhua to give her only the plainest of makeup and clothing to wear.
"Chunhua! No need to do anything extra. Keep it as simple as possible."
"My lady, we can't do that. The marquis will yell at us if he sees you not properly ready."
"It's fine, trust me."
Chunhua nods and agrees to follow Ying Yue's demand. Placing her hair into a ponytail; with no hair pins or accessories. Ying Yue decided she was going to go bare face and use no makeup. She also chose an outfit that was a dirty green and brownish color. It was an old outfit that Ying Yue had received from her step-mother years ago. Finally, ready and dressed up, Ying Yue walks to her study table and writes a quick letter addressed to Jia Li that explained her plans.
"Chunhua, take this letter to Jia Li and make sure you give it to her only."
"Very well, my lady."
"Good, I'm going to see mother first since the crown prince isn't here yet."
"Alright, my lady. I will have the other maids bring your lunch and madam's lunch to her room today."
Ying Yue waited until Chunhua was out of sight before running out of her room. Making her way to her mother's room, Ying Yue is suddenly stopped by her father who happened to be walking by in the main corridor.
"Ying Yue! What is that you're wearing?! Go and get change right now!"
"This was a gift from step mother father. There's nothing wrong with it. Now if you'll excuse me, I must go visit mother."
Ying Yue quickly walked away as her father continue to bicker at her outfit choice. Taking a deep breath, Ying Yue props her mother's residence doors open and calls out to her.
"Mother? It's Ying Yue!"
Not hearing a response back, made Ying Yue worried. Rather than waiting for a reply, Ying Yue forces her way into mother's bedroom. There she finds her mother on the floor, near her bed unconscious. Quickly running to her mothers aid, Ying Yue carries her mother onto her bed and runs out to get help.
"I need a doctor!"
Quickly running to the main hall, Ying Yue runs up to her father and screams for help.
"Father! Mother needs a doctor! She's unconscious!"
"Again? Leave her be, we don't have time. The crown prince will be here soon."
"What?"
Feeling anger well up inside her, Ying Yue runs back to her bedroom and grabs her sword and money pouch. As she runs to the front entrance to the marquis residence; Ying Yue is stopped by the crown prince's guards. The crown prince had assigned ten royal guards to make sure Ying Yue stayed in place and ten guards to Bolin and Zhi Ruo's residence in case Ying Yue did try escape. With the guards blocking the main entrance, Ying Yue knew she would have to fight her way out to get a doctor for her mother.
"Get out of my way!"
The leader of the royal guard squad steps out and pleads with Ying Yue to go back to her residence and not cause any trouble.
"Please return to your residence, lady Ying Yue."
"Move out of my way! Or do I need to use force?!"
The guards were not budging at all. With time ticking away, Ying Yue storms in head first. Taking her sword out of its scabbard, she goes head on with the royal guard leader. Using everything she had, Ying Yue fought off the guards one by one. Avoiding killing anyone, Ying Yue knocks out everyone. Finally walking out to the main entrance, Ying Yue hears her father scream after her.
"Ying Yue stop! I'll send someone out, just please stay within the residence!"
"No! I'll never allow myself to be in debt to you!"
Ying Yue makes a run for it. Running to the quickest clinic she could find that had a doctor available. Leaving in such a hurry she didn't even bother to get her horse. Finally seeing a clinic within site after running around for twenty minutes, Ying Yue begs for the doctor to do a home visit. Although reluctant as they were busy, they agreed when Ying Yue offered her whole bag of gold coins, she had left from selling her jade and gold hairpin.
Meanwhile the crown prince arrives shortly after Ying Yue ran off. Standing in front of the marquis household. The crown prince sees all his guard's unconscious and laying on the ground by the front entrance.
"Marquis Zi Wei Yang, what is the meaning of this?"
"I... have no explanation to give crown prince."
"Was this Ying Yue's doing?"
"Yes, crown prince.... I'm afraid so."
"Where did she go? Is she not afraid of what will happen Bolin and Zhi Ruo?!"
Chunhua quickly runs up to calm the angry crown prince. With her hands and face on the ground, Chunhua begs for the crown prince to calm down.
"Please calm down crown prince. My lady Ying Yue did not run away!"
"And who are you?"
"I am the personal maid of lady Ying Yue."
"Well, where is she?"
"Madam was not feeling well, so she left to fetch a doctor!"
The crown prince turns his attention to Ying Yue's father. The marquis could only keep his gaze down in shame. Without hesitation the crown prince walks closer to the marquis; now hovering over him.
"If Ying Yue does not return, I will be sure to drag down the Yang household."
"I.. I.. understand crown prince. Please let me find people to go fetch her."
The marquis motions for the crown prince to rest inside the main building as he instructed a few of his guards to go find Ying Yue. Within ten minutes, Ying Yue arrives in a carriage with the doctor she found. The marquis quickly runs out to gesture for Ying Yue to head to the main building as the crown prince was waiting for her.
"Ying Yue! Head into the main hall right now! You've kept the crown prince waiting already! Are you trying to get us all killed?!"
"I will go when mother is taken care of first!"
Ying Yue motions for the doctor and Chunhua to follow her to her mother's residence. The doctor quickly checks on madam Bai Shun's pulse and temperature. Unlike anything he's seen before, he had to double check again.
"This is unusual."
"What's wrong with her?"
"Her pulse and temperature is fine. She doesn't seem to be suffering from anything internally."
"What...what should I do?"
"Hm....let me ask you. Is your mother from the Chen household?"
"Yes! How did you know?"
"That would explain some things then. What are the chances of you getting me out of all the doctors in town. My parents and grandparents all served the Chen household when it was still around. All the woman born into that family was always weak; no one knows why of course. My family is in debt to your great-grandmother, keep your money. I will not charge you anything."
"Will my mother be alright?"
"She should wake up soon, but I will prescribe a herb for you to give her. It's nothing much; it will just give her some energy."
"Alright, thank you so much! I have to head to the main building as a guest is waiting for me, so I will be unable to see you out."
"I can manage that much. If you ever need my help again, you know where to find me."
Ying Yue gestures for Chunhua to watch over her mother as she makes a run for it to the main building. Slightly breaking into a sweat, Ying Yue takes a deep breath and enters into the room where the crown prince was resting. To Ying Yue's surprise, Jia Li was also in the room chatting in the distance with the crown prince. Jia Li notices Ying Yue and locks eyes with her before bidding the crown prince farewell.
"Ah! Ying Yue! There you are!"
"Greetings crown prince. I apologize for keeping you waiting."
"And here I was thinking you ran away. Now that you're here we should use this time to chat. The wedding is tomorrow after all."
"I agree, how about another stroll at the garden?"
Ying Yue motions for the crown prince to follow her to the garden. If Jia Li had followed her note instructions correctly, Jia Li should be waiting in the garden first. After walking for ten minutes, Ying Yue finally reaches the garden. Making her way to the pavilion, Ying Yue motions for the crown prince to take a seat. Ying Yue's original plan was to make the crown prince Jia Li in a different light, but Jia Li was nowhere to be found. Feeling a bit disappointed, Ying Yue keeps her gaze down.
"Is there something wrong Ying Yue?"
"Not at all, crown prince."
Ying Yue ended up spending the next two hours keeping the crown prince company. Never once did she not think of Jianyu. Ying Yue pinches herself to snap out of it, finally glancing back at the crown prince, Ying Yue prompts the crown prince that it's time to end the conversation.
"It is getting late crown prince. I am rather tired from running around all day. I'll be excusing myself first."
"Very well, I will see you tomorrow then."
Ying Yue stares into the sun in the distance as the crown prince leaves. With no one to rely on, Ying Yue was really on her own now. Running away would be so easy if Ying Yue didn't have to worry about Bolin and Zhi Ruo. With a deep sigh, Ying Yue heads back to her mother's residence.